| Title | : | Alaska Sampler 2014: Ten Authors from the Great Land: FictionBiographyMemoirHumor |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 148 |
| Publication | : | First published May 21, 2014 |
This was the challenge put to ten of Alaska’s finest authors: to share unique and intimate perspectives—some previously published, some new to this volume—that reach beyond the usual stereotypes to an Alaska that can’t be packaged or staged.
These stories, musings, and rants come from authors whose roots run deep in the Far North. There’s Dana Stabenow, author of more than thirty novels, who was raised on 75-foot fish tender in the Gulf of Alaska—she knew there had to be a warmer, drier job out there somewhere. And there’s David Marusek, who writes full time in his low-maintenance cabin near Fairbanks, Alaska, producing fiction that’s “ferociously smart, [and] simultaneously horrific and funny,” according to Publishers Weekly.
The Alaska Sampler features memoir by Leigh Newman, whose Great Alaskan Dad taught her to fish, hunt, curl up and play dead in the case of curious black bears, and to throw up artfully in the hood of parka while flying in a single prop plane. Another memoir comes from Jan Harper Haines, whose stories of floods and ghosts were passed down by her Koyukon Athabascan mother.
From forty-five years in Alaska, including twelve as editor of the Anchorage Daily News, Howard Weaver takes a fresh look at how the state is changing (and not for the better). Another longtime Alaskan, Kaylene Johnson, recounts a death-defying journey by adventurer Dick Griffith. On the lighter side, science writer Ned Rozell gives voice to one of Alaska’s ubiquitous ravens, who has a score or two to settle with us humans.
In fiction, longtime Alaskan Deb Vanasse writes of a woman obsessed with a glacier, while Don Rearden transports us to the tundra with a story that sheds light on everyday struggles in rural Alaska. In novel excerpts by Tanyo Ravicz, a young family faces violent weather, wild bears, illness, isolation, and the intrusion of poachers on Kodiak Island.
Long after you finish, the stories, characters, and images of these authors will linger. Be forewarned: you’ll want to read more.
Alaska Sampler 2014: Ten Authors from the Great Land: FictionBiographyMemoirHumor Reviews
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I now understand better the term "sampler" in the title of this book, as many of the entries are snippets from larger novels. I admit that I would enjoy reading more of most of them. As someone about to embark upon her first journey to Alaska, this book of short stories did pique my curiosity about this wild state and satisfied my desire to get some initial impressions of the landscape.
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Downloaded free from
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https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/alaska-sampler-2014-ten-authors-from-the-great-land-eds-deb-vanasse-and-david-marusek/
This is a collection of ten pieces by ten Alaskan writers. The majority of the pieces are fiction, but I found myself more drawn to the non-fiction pieces – the standout pieces are extracts from A Time Machine Called the Chilkoot Trail, by Dana Stabenow (better known as a mystery writer) and from Cold River Spirits by Jan Harper-Haines. Though it’s all good, and certainly knocks on the head any thought you may have had that Alaska is devoid of culture. -
This is a collection of writings. Not all are short stories. Not all are fiction. Some are portions of larger, unfinished works. All are interesting. Many viewpoints from Alaskan natives, to immigrants, to hopefuls, to birds. All of the stories make you feel something.
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Enjoyed reading these short selections during a scenic train vacation in Alaska. I hope to delve further into some of the complete works.
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This is a free collection of short stories, non-fiction/memoir, and excerpts from larger works. It’s good reading and shows a lot of different faces of Alaska.
Most enjoyable to me were “A Time Machine Called the Chilkoot Trail” by Dana Stabenow, an excerpt from “Still Points North” by Leigh Newman, “On Ice” by Deb Vanasse, excerpts from “Wildwood” by Tanyo Ravicz and “From Cold River Spirits” by Jan Harper-Haines.
If you’re interesting in the fascinating place that is Alaska, or just up for something a little different, try the Alaska Sampler 2014. And it looks like the Alaska Sampler 2015 is out now. -
It is hard to rate this book because it is a collection of stories by different authors. Most told of the harsh life in Alaska, the bitter cold, the wildlife, and a little about those native to the area and those who are attracted to the area as an adopted home.
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Give me a book about Alaska that includes Dana Stabenow and I am a happy camper. This one gives you a range of options for short stories based in Alaska. Definitely recommended reading even if you have never visited the state. But beware, you will probably want to go after reading this.
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Liked the variety of stories.
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Several wonderful stories about folks who live or have lived in Alaska. It gave we a wide view of the folks who call Alaska home.
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There are some great pieces in here, and all of them are pretty darn good. Definitely going to track down the full versions and/or other works by these Alaskan authors!
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Not for me.. Quit well before finishing.
